Went to see Suzy Bogguss at the Purcell Rooms last night and had to put up with a couple who insisted on talking and singing along loudly throughout every song. I tried talking to the bloke and asking him to pipe down a bit and he just said he was there to enjoy himself. That's ok,but people should know the appropriate way to enjoy themselves without affecting the enjoyment of other audience members. It's ok to sing along during a rock concert with a band in a large theatre or arena,but I don't think it's appropriate during an acoustic performance in a small hall which is primarily designed as a listening venue,as per last night.

What do others think?

It drives me mad.

Went to see Roisin Murphy last year and every time she sang a slow song all you could hear was the collective murmour of people talking echoing around the venue. Probably from people standing near the back. Why bother going if you're just going to talk through it.

You want to go to louder gigs where you can't hear anything but the band. I do agree however, that it is irritating. I was at a gig once and during the quiet songs /bits, a couple of girls, who did not even seem to interested in the gig were talking constantly, very annoying. Don't know why they bothered going, they could have just gone to a pub instead.

That's the point,you expect it to a degree at club venues like The Borderline or Dingwalls but not at places like the Festival Hall which,again,are primarily designed for listening.

I was at P!nk last year and there was a group of very loud drunk women screaming and shoving into every one.

When another group of girls asked them to cut the crap they got aggressive and starting mouthing off that they were the ones having a good time.

A riot nearly broke out.

I don't think we should all stand there in silence but there has to be a happy medium with respect for others.

I've always been quite lucky when at concerts with people talking or making noise during quiet concerts.

I went to see Tracy Chapman a couple of years ago and she opened her set by walking on a singing 'Behind The Wall'. And the whole place was silent throughout the song. It really wasn't the atosphere to make any noise during a song like that and I'm glad everyone in attendance respected that.

Also I've seen Bruce Springsteen a few times and the last time I did he performed 'Racing In The Street' and despite being a rock concert the entire place was stony silent during the song. It was incredible to hear, roughly 70000 people silent.

Anyway, yeah, I've been quite lucky.

Some absolute moron was shouting on his mobile phone towards the end of a concert by Focus that I went to - telling his mate that he was at a show! It was only a small theatre venue and I'm sure even the band could hear him between breaks.

I'd like to have stuffed the phone somewhere unmentionable and thrown him out on his earhole.

I thought at first the thread was about those artists who waffle forever inbetween songs.

I went to Rod Stewart at the O2 on tuesday with my fiance, sister in law and her boyfriend and I was so worried this would happen, but everyone was actullay brilliant in there, at James Morrison a few months back all I could hear was idiots screaming and shouting about something completely irrelevant and I was so far back!

I went to see Bat For Lashes a couple of years ago and there were a couple of girls doing exactly the same. My wife went to have a word with them and they called her rude for interrupting their chat! Unbelieveable.

It is just so rude and thoughtless for anyone else there. As you say, if you want to chat go out side, it's not that difficult surely.

How can anyone go into a concert having paid to be there and then just yap with their mates. Surely you can do that down the pub for a fraction of the price. One gig I went to a guy on the Front row yes the front row was sat playing on his phone all the way through!

I disagree on the singing bit though, I don't mind people singing along, or even bumping into me (if it's a standing area).

Point is you've paid to hear the people on stage sing and not other audience members. It doesn't matter so much when it's loud rock music but it should be a no-no when it's a slow quiet song or an acoustic set.

I almost got into a fight at trying to watch Scroobius Pip deliver a poem. I told this fellah who was rudely talking throughout to be quiet, he said he wouldn't so i called him a C. He then started pushing me from behind but i just ignored him and carried on facing forward watching the show. He wanted a fight but I didn't rise to it!